THIRUVANANTHAPURAM, 6 March 2008 — Three people were hacked to death as clashes between Bharatiya Janata Party and Communist Party of India-Marxist (CPI-M) supporters resumed in the northern Kerala district of Kannur yesterday.
More than 100 revenge killings have taken place in Kannur in the past following a series of clashes between the two parties. Many, including a top CPI-M leader, were also maimed in the long-drawn battle for supremacy.
A series of clashes erupted in remote areas yesterday. The district collector clamped prohibitory orders in sensitive areas like Thalassery, Chokli, Kathirur, Dharmadom and Panur, the epicenters of violence in the past. Yesterday’s violence began with attack on BJP worker M.C. Sumesh, 38, who is also a functionary (Taluk Sareerik Pramukh) of Rashtreeya Swayamsevak Sangh or National Cadet Corps, the ideological mentor of BJP, in front of the new bus station around 2 p.m. Within half-an-hour, CPI-M activist and driver P. Ranjithkumar, 35, of Edathilambalam, Illikkunnil was dragged out of his auto rickshaw and hacked to death.
Sumesh was admitted to Kozhikode Medical College, where he underwent emergency surgery. In the evening, lorry cleaner and BJP/RSS activist Nijhil, 23, was hacked to death at Kooli Bazar in Thalassery town.
The body of BJP worker Vattiprath Santhosh, 28, was found at Pachapoika, near Koothuparamba also in the evening. Two other RSS/BJP activists Paramkunnil Vinayan, 35 of Vettummal and Kannoli Ranjith, 32, of Kathirur sustained serious injuries in the evening. Shops at CC Mukku came under attack in the evening.
BJP/RSS leaders have called for a daylong shutdown in the district today.
